Dairy-Free Hawaii (The Big Island): Best Restaurants & Shops

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Dining Out , Suggested Restaurants , U.S. Restaurants
Last Updated February 2023! We’ve created this ever-growing guide to restaurants, bakeries, cafes, ice cream shops, and stores on The Big Island of Hawaii that are friendly to dairy-free diners. It’s a collection based on research and reader recommendations ( send yours !) that’s divided into restaurants & shops by city . And we’ve started a section for specialty dairy-free foods produced in this state.
We Update Continuously! You can ignore the original date on this post going forward. We update the information below whenever we’re alerted to a new recommendation, change, or closure.
Photo from Loved by the Sun in Hilo
Dairy-Free Hawaii, The Big Island: Recommended Restaurants & Shops
We’ve listed these recommendations alphabetically by city and then by the restaurant or shop name. For large chains with locations throughout the state, see the Major Restaurant & Grocery Chains section below. We have dedicated posts with dairy-free details for many of the big guys.
⭐️ = Restaurant is either dairy-free, has a dairy-free menu, has dairy-free labels on their menu(s), or lists top allergens with menu items. (At the time of our last review.)
Hilo
Cafe Pesto – Most of their salads can be made dairy-free, and they are reportedly helpful with special diet requests. They also serve Hawaiian Licks ice cream for dessert.
Hawaiian Licks ⭐️ – Hawaii has its very own dairy-free and vegan ice creamery! Their selection includes many local favorites, like Lilikoi, Ginger Mac Nut, and Ka’u Coffee. But they also scoop many popular classics, like Cookie Dough and Mint Chocolate Chunk. The flavors rotate daily, but they usually have about eight coconut milk-based varieties on hand.
Hilo Bay Cafe – This restaurant is friendly toward special diet guests. Their menu is littered with labeled vegan and gluten-free options, and they have several additional dairy-free choices available. They serve sushi, small plates, and warm entrees with local influences.
Island Naturals Market & Deli – This is the Big Island’s major natural food store. They carry lots of special diet brands in grocery, have some dairy-free deli options, and even offer some vegan treats in the bakery.
Liquid Life – They offer several dairy-free options for their smoothies, including coconut, mac-nut, and almond milks. Plus, they have a full menu of eats, including toasts, sandwiches, and Mexican favorites. They even have vegan nachos and breakfast sandwiches!
Loved by the Sun – This is a vegetarian cafe and juice bar with creative dairy-free mylks, fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls, and some healthy vegan food options.
Nicoco Hawaiian Gelato – Their main scoop shop is in Pāhoa, but they opened a second one in Hilo. This local gelateria is purely vegan and gluten-free, and churns coconut milk-based gelato in over 400 rotating seasonal flavors. You can read more details in the Pāhoa Listing below.
Ola Brew – This brewpub and taproom offers a cheeseless vegano sourdough flatbread, mushroom tacos, and a couple other vegan surprises. You can also order dairy-free toppings for your flatbread, and a couple more items can be custom ordered without dairy.
Papa’a Palaoa Bakery – Their breads include many freshly-baked dairy-free loaves, plus they make vegan cinnamon rolls,
Pineapples – They serve Island cuisine using fresh, local ingredients. They have an enticing vegan menu right on their main menu and some additional dairy-free items available.
Sweet Cane Cafe – Their smoothie menu is massive, and mostly dairy-free with macnut mylk and coconut milk generously used throughout. They also blend dairy-free acai and pitaya bowls and squeeze sugar cane juice. For eats, they regularly offer vegan and gluten-free baked goods, and serve a couple of vegan entrees (Caesar salad and bagel sandwiches at last check). But several additional menu items can be made dairy-free.
The Booch Bar – This is a kombucha and cocktail bar, but they also serve full menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their food items include many vegan options, and even more dairy-free choices. The menu is clearly labeled for vegan and gluten-free options, and they have vegan, gluten-free desserts.
The Locavore Store – This shop is filled with local dairy-free surprises, from coconut yogurt and nut cheeses to ice cream sandwiches and baked goods.
Tina’s Garden Cafe – Their extensive menu focuses on Thai fusion, is mostly dairy free, and includes many vegan options noted throughout. They focus on quality ingredients and have a fresher, healthier spin on many of the classics. A couple vegan desserts and local fruit smoothies are also available.
Vegan Shop ⭐️ – This little restaurant serves vegan dishes to go. They have a changing menu, and many say good portions for a fair price.
Vibe Cafe ⭐️ – This vegetarian cafe is mostly vegan, with a vegan option for what looks like everything on the menu. They offer six different milk beverages for their unique menu of lattes and coffee drinks, and serve quite an expansive menu for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. It includes toasts, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and so much more. For dessert, vegan ice cream, milkshakes, and affogatos are available.
Zippy’s – This is Hawaii’s major fast food chain. They have an allergen chart, which includes many traditional plate options that are dairy-free. They also have some dairy-free burgers, local stews, sandwiches, and breakfast items. Most of their locations are on Oahu , but they have this one on the Big Island.
Honokaa
Ahualoa Farms – At their shop you will discover some unique dairy-free foods made with local ingredients. They offer creamy mac nut dressings, macnella spread (like Nutella!), and local honeys.
Honoka’a Chocolate Company – Stop in for a chocolate tasting. They offer dairy-free dark chocolate bars and sometimes have vegan milk chocolate made with coconut milk.
Kailua-Kona
Barefoot Zone ⭐️ – Come as you are to this vibrant counter-serve, dairy-free cafe. They flip gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free crepes wrap them around savory cheesy or sweet fillings. Other dishes include acai and pitaya bowls, tropical smoothies, plant-based burritos and quesadillas, vegan sushi rolls, and local organic healing teas.
Basik Cafe ⭐️ – This sweet local spot blends purely dairy-free and plant-based acai bowls and smoothies. They’re made with cashew milk or hemp milk and simple, healthy ingredients. The menu is mostly vegan, too, but a few items have honey or bee pollen toppings.
Bianellis Gourmet Pizza and Pasta – Calzones, pizza, gluten-free pizza, and gluten-free pasta can be made dairy-free on request at this local Italian restaurant. They do offer dairy-free cheese.
Bubba & Finn’s ⭐️ – This popular spot offers a variety of dairy-free Dole Whip soft serve flavors. You can also order refreshing fruit juice floats.
Da Poke Shack – Their poke fish is always fresh, never frozen, and includes a great array of flavors. They also offer sashimi and hot plates, and have many vegan sides. Most of their menu is dairy-free.
Gecko Girlz Shave Ice – This little local shop uses only pure can sugar to sweeten their flavors. Like many shave ice spots, you can find great dairy-free options, but this one also offers a vegan coconut cream drizzle.
Gypsea Gelato – They typically have at least one creamy vegan gelato flavor in addition to dairy-free sorbetto flavors.
Herbivores ⭐️ – This all vegan cafe offers something for everyone, with pizzas, sandwiches, smoothies, and a full breakfast menu.
HiCO – This local Hawaiian Coffee shop offers mac nut, oat, coconut, soy, and almond milk alternatives, plus they have their own house-made syrups with flavors like ube (purple sweet potato). They also have some light food options, like chia oat pudding.
Island Naturals Market & Deli – This is the Big Island’s major natural food store. They carry lots of special diet brands in grocery, have some dairy-free deli options, and even offer some vegan treats in the bakery.
Journey Cafe Big Island ⭐️ – This plant-based restaurant is known for their original artisan sourdough pockets and use of organic, local ingredients.
Kanaka Kava Bar – This kava bar and Hawaiian eatery is on a local kava farm. Their fresh menu includes dairy-free poke bowls, vegan dessert, and other pupu style eats.
Kona Cofee & Tea – In addition to milk beverages, they offer light bites, like coconut chia pudding, dairy-free acai bowls, and some other breakfast-y items that can be easily modified.
Loko Wraps – All of the Loko Sauces and Dressings are made in house, and they are all dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free. That means you can enjoy most of the wraps, mixed plates, and taco plates at this Island style Mexican restaurant.
Ola Brew – This brewpub and taproom offers a cheeseless vegano sourdough flatbread, mushroom tacos, and a couple other vegan surprises. You can also order dairy-free toppings for your flatbread, and a couple more items can be custom ordered without dairy.
Plant Based Foods ⭐️ – Everything at this little shop is dairy-free and mostly vegan (they do carry honey). You’ll find some local goodies and unique foods that you won’t see anywhere else on the island.
Puna Chocolate Co – The cacao they use is actuallly grown in Hawaii by local independent farmers. They regularly offer vegan chocolate bars made purely with Hawaiian cacao beans, organic cane sugar, and cocoa butter. Sometimes they also have dairy-free “milk” chocolate.
Sweet Journey Soft Serve ⭐️ – For a pure taste of the islands, visit this dairy-free ice cream shop. Their soft serve is made from locally grown organic macadamia nuts, which are cold-pressed into a creamy dairy-free milk base.
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill – This is a local favorite for pupus, poke, plates, and other popular Hawaiian dishes. Many menu items are naturally dairy-free.
Keaau
Mauna Loa Visitor Center – Because macadamia nuts are naturally dairy-free and delicious, we recommend visiting this famed macadamia nut farm. We’re not sure if they offer their dairy-free ice cream at the center, but you can buy it at nearby stores.
Kealakekua
Gypsea Gelato – They typically have at least one creamy vegan gelato flavor in addition to dairy-free sorbetto flavors.
HiCO – This local Hawaiian Coffee shop offers mac nut, oat, coconut, soy, and almond milk alternatives, plus they have their own house-made syrups with flavors like ube (purple sweet potato). They also have some light food options, like chia oat pudding.
Pāhoa
Island Naturals Market & Deli – This is the Big Island’s major natural food store. They carry lots of special diet brands in grocery, have some dairy-free deli options, and even offer some vegan treats in the bakery.
Nicoco Hawaiian Gelato – Lalita told us about this local spot that churns vegan, gluten-free, coconut milk-based gelato in over 400 rotating seasonal flavors. “It’s without a doubt the best vegan ice cream I’ve ever had, and I’ve had many in my 50 years as a vegan. The owners are super sweet folks, too, and now have [two]shops, with their delicious fresh-made (and gluten-free) waffle cones, milk shakes, and so on (Ashley creates beautiful custom vegan ice cream cakes!). Their products are available from several other select local retailers, as well, and they pop up at various events.”
Pahoa Smoothie Shack ⭐️ – This is a great little dairy-free and mostly vegan spot (they do use honey) for light eats. They have acai and pitaya bowls, juices, fruit smoothies, and a few bagel options, including cheezy bread.
Tin Shack Bakery – They offer fermented sourdough bagels, baked fresh daily, fruit smoothies, dairy-free golden mylk and coffee options, and usually have some other vegan baked goods.
Volcano Village
Café Ono – This is an organic restaurant located n the grounds of the historic Hopper Estate. Their lunch menu is about half vegan and gluten-free with options like a vegetable panini, chili, soup, and salad. They also serve tea with desserts midday, and serve a vegan carrot cake.
Photo from Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill in Kailua Kona
Local Dairy-Free Food & Drink Producers in Hawaii, The Big Island
These dairy-free friendly companies don’t have their own retail location, but are on The Big Island. So you have a good chance of finding their products at grocery stores, restaurants, and/or other shops in this state. Keep an eye out!
Big Island Coffee Roasters – In addition to coffee, they make “espresso bites” coffee bars – like chocolate but with coffee beans and cocoa butter instead of cacao beans. They come in two vegan varieties.
Dole Whip – This popular dairy-free soft serve can be found at many markets and restaurants. It usually comes in pineapple, but sometimes other fruity flavors are served.
Edible Peace – This local dairy-free company makes cheese alternatives, macnutella, mini cheesecakes, and more vegan treats.
Kipimana Hawaiian Granola – Each of their tropical flavors is made with pure, local ingredients, and without dairy, wheat, soy, additives, or preservatives.
Punahele Jerky – Fish jerky is popular on Hawaii, and this local company makes flavorful ahi, tako, and aku varieties.
Photo from Sweet Journey Soft Serve in Kailua Kona
This Guide is Continuously Updated with Recommendations
We welcome you to recommend other dairy-free friendly restaurants. Leave a comment or contact us and tell us why you like a certain restaurant. Restaurant owners and employees are also invited to reach out and let us know how you welcome dairy-free customers.
Please kindly let us know in the comments if any of these restaurants close. We want to keep this list current for you, but aren’t always notified when a restaurant closes. Let us know and we will quickly update!
This Guide is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, and restaurants are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure that they can accommodate your situation.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.